Khaberni - Parents may think that children do not pick up on the details of what's happening around them, but experts in psychology and nutrition confirm that youngsters are more observant and intelligent than we imagine, and they form their understanding of the world through adults' daily behaviors, not just their words.
Psychologist Jasmine McCoy explains that children keenly observe how their parents interact with each other, even simple gestures like looks of displeasure or negative jokes. She confirms that this directly affects the child's sense of security and emotional stability.
Nutrition specialist Alyssa Miller notes that children pick up on adults' views of their own bodies through comments or behaviors in front of the mirror or avoidance of photos, which leads to an early understanding of body image and self-acceptance.
Psychologist Laura Markham, author of the book "Calm Parenting, Happy Kids," explains that children discern their parents' true values through their daily actions, not just through advice, such as focusing on winning rather than enjoyment in activities.
Miller adds that children also observe how adults handle their mistakes. If a parent is harsh on themselves, the child learns the same harshness instead of empathy.
She also confirms that adults' relationship with food directly transfers to the children, through categorizing foods or feeling guilty about eating, which may later form an unhealthy eating behavior.
McCoy points out that children also pay attention to the way parents talk about them in front of others, even if it seems they do not understand the details, as they feel the tone of negative or positive evaluation, which reflects on their self-confidence.
Experts agree that children do not only listen to what is said to them, but they watch life as it is lived in front of them, and they turn it into permanent lessons in behavior, values, and emotions.
